College is supposed to be the highlight of your life, the time you’ll spend the rest of your life looking back on. But sometimes, usually around midterms, college can feel overwhelming.   

College is a unique and exciting experience no doubt. You finally have freedom from your parents but you know that their house will still be there whenever you choose to go home. You’re away from the people you spent most of your life with, and you’re also free of your high school labels. 

You can become anyone you want to be. You can dye your hair, get a tattoo or go out all night on a Wednesday because that’s what college is for. In just about every way, college is awesome, but there’s some things that people overlook, the things that make college not only the best years of your life but the most stressful.   

College is four (or more) years of constant and abrupt change. You have to make several huge decisions in a short amount of time. The independence you receive in college has good and bad aspects. Suddenly you don’t live in the home that you’ve spent almost every night in since birth and every choice is yours to make. 

You can’t rely on your parents to force you to study or eat vegetables; it’s all on you, and chances are you won’t always make the best decisions. You also now have a roommate who you have to adjust to living with, and trust me you won’t always get along. 

When you go home for a holiday, you’ll probably have a relative constantly asking you when you’ll find a special someone, you’re not getting any younger after all. Do you remember that high school teacher who would do whatever it took to make sure you passed that class? Forget about it. College professors care if you pass, but they have way too many students to worry specifically about you.   

Presumably you want a career after college - that is, after all, why you’re here. It’s hard to decide at 18 what you want to spend the rest of your life doing when you can’t even make definitive Friday night plans. Once you finally choose a major you’re going to have to be competitive, jobs are hard to find and graduate school is difficult to get in to. 

You’re going to have to have a stellar GPA, you also need to be joining clubs and organizations on campus to build your resume. You might need a job during the school year and that cuts into the little bit of time you have left in your schedule. If you still can find time you may want to have a social life. 

Despite what your parents think it can’t all be about schoolwork; your social life is important, and you have to find a balance between having perfect grades and having a life. If you’re able to find a balance, you’re left with approximately four hours of sleep a night, if you’re lucky.   

There are a million things thrown at you all at once, and for many people, it is too much to handle. Chances are you’ll feel overwhelmed and ready to quit at some point of your college career. Your stress level depends on who you are and what kind of classes you’re taking. 

Who knows? College might be a breeze for you, and you may never feel this overwhelmed. If you do get overwhelmed, remember to take the stressful parts one day or problem at a time. Spend some time doing something you enjoy, like reading a book, or taking a nap. College is what you make. It's just like life: you can make it as enjoyable or stressful as you like.